Sugie Barker is an artist living in the small town of Portola, California surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her family has owned a summer resort nearby since 1920 when her Grandfather obtained a permit from the Forest Service to construct a mountain camp. The lakes, trees, flowers and mountains in the area are her painting inspiration. When not in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area, she travels in the Southwest photographing the sandstone canyons and dwelling ruins left by Ancestral Puebloan people, subjects for more acrylic paintings when back in California.
Background
Sugie has been creating art from a young age when her many crayon creations would be taped on her family's refrigerator. She knew she wanted to be an artist since second grade when her teacher selected her drawing to be displayed on the schoolroom wall. At her high school in Piedmont, California she was able to take two periods a day in art instead of other electives, allowing her experimentation in many mediums. Sugie graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California with a major in Art in 1970, with no specific specialization. Graduate work was in Education, hoping to use her love of art in the Elementary Schools, with dreams of being a classroom art teacher. After marrying and having two boys, she substituted in the schools of her small mountain community near the family summer resort for twelve years. Inspired by a friend and guest, she began painting once again in 2009. Sugie now paints in acrylic but also has tried watercolor and water-based oils. She paints mostly from photographs taken on hikes and travels.
Painting Collections
Sugie's works are displayed at Elwell Lakes Lodge, on walls of friends and family, and in homes around the world - homes of past foreign employees of the lodge who have received special parting gifts to take to their countries.
To inquire about her work, you can email Sugie at elwellodge@aol.com.